Waste Management and Recycling

Penn recycles about 30% of its total waste stream, diverting over 2,000 tons of material from landfills annually. Facilities and Real Estate Services is responsible for the collection of municipal waste and recyclables at Penn. The University also collects and recycles computers, printers, batteries, and fluorescent light bulbs. Our services and programs help the individual reduce their waste stream, reuse products to extend their life cycle, and recycle products at the end of their life cycle.

The University composts all leaves to be re-used on the campus landscape. In addition, Penn’s Morris Arboretum provides composting facilities for the entire neighboring municipality of Springfield Township, allowing both garden waste drop-off and free compost.

What can be recycled on campus?

Mixed Paper

Mixed paper is the term used for all types and grades of paper. Paper and cardboard are collected together from all buildings on campus. Almost all paper, with a few exceptions, can be recycled.

Paper

• Office Paper
• Junk Mail
• Bulk Packs
• Glossy Paper
• Magazines
• Newspapers
• Notebooks
• Catalogs
• Paperbacks
• Brown Paper Bags
• Phone Books
• NO Hardcover Books
• NO Wax Paper
• NO Soiled Paper

Departments can recycle hardcover book for a fee by arranging a pick-up through Penn Facilities and Real Estate Services. Contact sustainability@upenn.edu for more information.

All other hardcover books can be donated to your local library. Many bookstores (including the Penn Bookstore @ 36th and Walnut) offer buy-back opportunities for used textbooks.

Cardboard

Empty & Flatten:

• Cardboard boxes
• Clean pizza boxes
• Drink and ice cream cartons
• Fiber board (ex: cereal boxes)
• NO Wax-Coated Cardboard
• NO Food Soiled Cardboard

Did you know? The capacity of a recycling dumpster increases 8-10 times when boxes are broken down. Corrugated cardboard boxes and pizza boxes must be emptied and flattened for recycling.

In Academic/Administrative buildings, put flattened cardboard boxes next to any recycling bin in the building. (This indicates to the housekeeping staff that the box is meant to be recycled.)

In College Houses, place flattened boxes in their designated location.

Glass, Plastics #1 - #7, and Metals

Glass, all plastic, and metals are recyclable materials that are collected together, or "commingled," in College Houses, academic/administrative buildings, and outdoor locations across campus.

GLASS

• All glass food and beverage containers (all colors)
• NO window glass
• NO light bulbs

Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulb recycling bins are located at all College House info desks.

PLASTIC

All plastic containers, wrappers, and bags are now recyclable on campus. Examples include:

• Plastic cups, bottles, and lids
• Shampoo and detergent bottles
• Milk jugs and yogurt containers
• Plastic packaging
• Plastic bags
• Plastic wrap
• Candy and chip wrappers
• NO Foam Products
  

METALS

• Aluminum Cans
• Aluminum Foil
• Empty Aerosol Cans
• Steel & ferrous cans (canned goods, coffee cans, etc.)
• NO batteries or electronics
  

Did you know? Most plastics are turned into new items such as plastic pots, polyester for carpets and jacket fillings, and outdoor furniture.

Special Items (Universal Waste and E-Waste)

For information on how to recycle computer, batteries, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and other electronic equipment, please visit the Waste and Recycling section of the Green Campus Partnership website.

Trash

The following items are not recyclable, and should be placed in the trash.

FOOD WASTE

• Uneaten Food
• Kitchen Scraps
  

Food waste from all Penn Dining Halls is composted. Select buildings on campus also provide composting services. Please contact you local Eco-Rep for more information.

SOILED PAPER

• Used Paper Plates, Cups, and Napkins

FOAM

• Foam cups and plates
• Foam containers
• Foam Packing Inserts or "peanuts"

 

Where to recycle

Office and Education Buildings

Each office and educational building handles its waste and recycling differently. Please look for designated bins and recycling areas in your building.

College Houses

Please use the recycling containers located at or in your college house or Sansom Place:

• W.E.B. DuBois College House
• Gregory College House: Van Pelt and Class of 1925
• Rodin College House
• Harnwell College House
• Harrison College House
• Hill College House
• King's Court / English College House
• Sansom Place East
• Sansom Place West
• Stouffer College House: Mayer Hall and Stouffer Building
• Fisher-Hassenfeld College House
• Reipe College House
• Ware College House

Outdoor receptacles and triplets

There are a number of outdoor locations for recycling, including trash and recycling "triplets" and BigBelly solar compactors. FRES' current trashcan consolidation initiative will ensure that all outdoor trash bins are accompanied by at least one recycling bin by the end of the Spring 2012 semester.

Did you know? Penn installed ten BigBelly solar-powered compacting trash cans with recycling bins along Walnut and Spruce Streets to increase your public recycling options. These cans compact trash so that the container stores up to four times the capacity of a regular trash can!

What else can you do to increase your recycling and reduce your waste?

You can do a lot!

• Drink from reusable coffee mugs or water bottles
• Print only when necessary, using the double sided option
• Shop with reusable bags
• Eat and store food with reusable containers, plates, silverware, etc.
• Purchase items with minimal packaging
• Check products for percentage of Post-Consumer Waste (PCW) before you purchase, especially paper products (i.e. printer paper)
• Inquire about programs to donate used printer cartridges (i.e. local schools)
• Support suppliers with a sustainability program
  

Help inform your peers about proper recycling practices. Approved Penn Waste and Recycling Posters are available for download on the Green Campus Partnership website.

For more information about waste and recycling practices, please contact: sustainability@upenn.edu.